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WILLIAM LEE POPHAM 






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Copyright 1910 


BY 

WILLIAM LEE POPHAM 


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THE AUTHOR’S OTHER BOOKS. 


^Toems of Truth, Love and Power.” 
"‘Silver Gems in Seas of Gold.” 
“Nut Shells of Truth.” 

“The Valley of Love.” 

“She Dared to Win.” 

“A Tramp’s Love.” 

“The Village by the Sea.” 






II 


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fi 

a 


JLotoe'0 laatnljott) 
Dream 


BY 

William Lee Popham 


It was about sunset on a sum- 
mer’s afternoon when La Verne 
Sunbeam reached the depot in a 
Michigan summer resort to spend 
the summer with her cousin, Alice 
Winters. 

La Verne came directly from her 
home in Southern Florida and, de- 
spite the exhaustion caused by the 
tiresome trip, she looked like a 
fresh bud from the ‘^land of flow- 
ers.” Indeed, she was ‘^a Florida 
sunbeam,” and her expressive 
black eyes shone like two stars in 
the blue sky. 


LOVE'S RAINBOW DREAM 


Locks of thick, black hair dangled 
loose around her head like dancing 
flowers and her voice seemed like 
low whispers of music. 

So fair was her complexion that 
her face reflected a ray of light, and 
beautiful was this maiden of sixteen 
happy summers. 

Eesorters from many states 
crowded the depot, but Alice Win- 
ters soon found her Florida visitor 
and the meeting of the two cousins 
was ‘ ‘ gi'rl-like ’ ’ with caresses. 

Happy were the cousins as they 
walked slowly from the depot and 
no time was lost in conversation. 

At this time the sun had left a 
field of crimson on the bosom of the 
West and the afterglow was beau- 
tiful to behold. Alice was a settled, 
golden-haired, positive girl, having 
passed her ^ ‘teens, and her blue 
eyes glistened beneath their long, 
dark lashes like violets kissed with 


6 


LOVE’S RAINBOW DREAM 


morniiig dew. Alice was engaged 
to be married to a bachelor the com- 
ing winter. Hence ‘‘yes,terdays’^ 
largely held her dreams of romance. 

But quite different with La 
Verne, who had just arrived at the 
age of ‘^rainbow dreams and 
whose very nature was romance ex- 
emplified. 

She was a jolly girl and her 
mother always said she was ‘‘wild 
as a deer,^^ while her heart craved 
adventure and travel. 

Affection and love were part of 
her very soul and often did her 
fancy ride in romanfic aircastles. 

La Verne spent her girlhood 
along the silver lakes and blooming 
dells of Florida where the waves 
made music 'to the fishes and the 
singing breezes made ceaseless 
notes thru the bending pines and 
palmettos. 

To her everything resembled a 
7 


LOVE’S RAINBOW DREAM 


romance. She fancied thaf the 
fishes left their native waters of the 
Atlantic and Pacific and met in the 
Gulf of Mexico to be mated and that 
the birds came south each winter 
to wed some fair specimen of the 
feathery flock — fo spend their 
honeymoon in a strawberry patch 
and build their nest in the top of a 
blooming magnolia. 

Whether in Florida or by Lake 
Michigan, La Verne felt at home, 
for during her girlhood the wave- 
lets of southern lakes had often 
rocked her to sleep and now she was 
to spend the whole summer by Lake 
Michigan to gather queer shells, to 
build sand houses, to bathe, to fish 
and hunt along the golden banks — 
and perhaps more — to dream of ro- 
mance in the northern clime. 

Few hunters of the male sex 
could excel her with the rifle and 


8 


LOVE’S RAINBOW DREAM 


the wild duck that passed her flew 
on uncertain wings. 

The summer days came and went, 
filled with girlhood dreams’^ and 
meanwhile La Verne resumed her 
study of music under instruction of 
Madam Greene, of New York City, 
who made Benton Harbor her sum- 
mer home. 

The ‘‘Florida Sunbeam’’ re- 
ceived numerous invitations to sim- 
ple parties, lawn fetes and excur- 
sions, while each occasion increased 
her popularity among the young 
people. 


9 


CHAPTEE II. 


The morning sun stole into the 
eastern window and shone upon a 
pot of blooming flowers in the 
‘‘Benton Harbor Studio.’^ 

The young photographer and 
proprietor, Victor Wellington, sat 
by the open window with eyes upon 
the flowers, while the fragrance 
filled the room. 

From the studio window the 
ships could be seen on the lake — 
and sometimes the sea gulls seemed 
like queer messengers in the sky 
with words of love yet unspoken. 

Alice Winters, his friend and 
neighbor, had brought La Verne to 
his studio one year ago, and after 
an informal introduction, the girls 
had a sitting for their photographs. 
So strikingly beautiful was La 
Verne ^s picture the young photog- 
10 


LOVE’S RAINBOW DREAM 


rapher made an ‘ ‘ extra size ’ ’ of her 
likeness; and since it has adorned 
the wall in the very center among 
the other samples. 

Victor Wellington had not only 
adorned his studio wall with the 
‘‘Florida Sunbeam ^s’^ picture, but 
a small size copy of the shining 
face in his watch-case greeted him 
every time he opened his watch. 

Since the bright morning La 
Verne posed in his studio, his one 
ambition in life was to win her love 
— and now that she was again visit- 
ing in his town, he was indeed, 
happy. Since he first saw her win- 
some eyes and sunny smile, he had 
written her letters — always receiv- 
ing an encouraging response; bu,t 
now, for the first time, he could 
soon tell her from his own lips that 
he loved her — could tell her, per- 
haps, with a kiss instead of the ex- 
pression of “the cold pen.’^ 

11 


LOVE’S RAINBOW DREAM 


In vision he could see those flash- 
ing eyes as she would hear the old 
story, and he could see once more 
her happy smile — which was the 
only benediction he craved. 

Then the expected strolls they 
would take along the lake and a 
hundred things to afford pleasure 
and show her ‘ ^ the time of her life. ’ ’ 
Victor Wellington owned another 
studio in Grand Eapids, but his 
employes there must do without his 
superintendency at least while La 
Verne stayed in Benton Harbor. 


12 


CHAPTER III. 


Autumn came, and still La Verne 
remained a visitor at the home of 
her northern cousin. 

La Verne and Alice sat on the 
front veranda of the Winters ’ home 
one balmy autumn morning ere the 
sun had risen when a queer proces- 
sion passed along the street before 
their eyes. Many covered wagons, 
a drove of horses, queerly dressed 
men, women and children, a cow 
and a dog composed the line. 

‘Ht^s a circus!’^ exclaimed Alice 
when she paused a moment in 
amazement. 

‘HiS it advertised to show hereT^ 
questioned La Verne. 

‘‘Noit to my knowledge,’’ was the 
response. 

Ere the day had gone the mys- 
tery was solved. The strange pro- 
13 


LOVE’S RAINBOW DREAM 


cession was a traveling band of 
gypsies and the girls thought no 
more about the group till the next 
morning when they found a small 
printed handbill carefully folded 
under the front door. 

La Verne unfolded the paper in 
an unthoughted manner, and it read 
as follows ; 

‘‘ ^The Gypsy Queen’ will read 
your life — past, present and future 
for one dollar. Call at tent and 
learn when, how, where and whom 
you will marry.” 

‘^Oh, what luck!” thought La 
Verne, as she read the handbill. 
Alice was reading the morning 
newspaper and did not notice the 
anxious look on La Verne’s face. 

La Verne slipped to her room 
and even read the advertisement 
the third time. 

‘‘I’ll call and let her tell my for- 
tune,” she whispered to herself, 
14 


LOVE’S RAINBOW DREAM 


‘‘after my music lesson is over.’’ 

“If s'he’s a real fortune-teller,” 
thought La Verne, “she’ll tell 
about ‘Victor’ and how much he 
loves me.” 

Who could refrain from peeping 
into the unknown, mysterious fu- 
ture; of hearing perhaps of wealth, 
or fame or success, and surely of a 
grand, perfect, god-like lover, that 
is to be yours — all yours? After 
all, a dollar is not such a tremen- 
dous sum! So the little dark-eyed, 
mystery-loving girl slipped in to 
pay her dollar to the stately gypsy 
queen, secretly hoping no one knew 
she was watching. 

La Verne entered the tent and 
had to wait her “turn,” for some 
one was just ahead. The person 
ahead was a tall girl who once 
claimed the love of Victor Welling- 
ton, although since the morning of 
La Verne’s visit to the studio their 


15 


LOVE’S RAINBOW DREAM 


courtsiMp had ceased. But hardly 
could it have been called ‘‘a court- 
ship/’ for they were more like 
neighbors — ^both being born in 
Benton Harbor. 

Soon as this tall girl saw La 
Verne at the tent, her anger en- 
raged and envy filled her heart. 

La Verne was yet seated in a far 
corner, away from the gypsy’s 
‘‘private booth,” when the tall girl 
said to the fortune-teller: “I came 
to have my fortune told, but the girl 
who is waiting has won Victor Wel- 
lington’s love and I’ll give you ten 
times your price if you’ll tell her 
that he don’t love her and lead her 
on a false pursuit.” “Very well,” 
agreed the fortune-teller, “what is 
his occupation?” 

“A photographer,” was the an- 
swer as she placed a ten-dollar bill 
in the gypsy’s hand, and then the 
girl retreated behind the curtain to 
16 


LOVE’S RAINBOW DREAM 


hear her rival’s fortune “well 
told.” 

La Verne entered the booth and 
almost the first sentence reached 
her ear was: “You are in love.” 
La Verne smiled happily and asked 
quickly : “ Does he love me ? ” “ He 
loved you once,” she answered, af- 
ter a long pause, “but now he loves 
another.” 

La Verne’s eyes filled with tears. 

“You will be surprised and dis- 
appointed,” the gypsy continued, 
“but in the end you’ll meet another 
far more worthy of your love than 
this man.” 

“You’ll soon get a sad message 
— and you’ll be the happier if you 
answer it quickly and indepen- 
dently.” 

“Have nothing further to do 
with the man you now love ; he is a 
false lover,” continued the fortune- 
teller, after a characteristic pause. 

17 


LOVE’S RAINBOW DREAM 


‘^She must be crazy, thought 
La Verne, ^‘Victor could never be 
false to me.’’ 

After La Verne dried the tears 
from her eyes, she asked timidly, 
^‘What is the man’s occupation 
whom I love?” hardly think I 
can tell that,” the gypsy responded, 
‘‘but I’ll try.” 

After an unusually long pause 
the gypsy said: “It seems like he’s 
in business for himself; he handles 
pictures or something of the kind. 
I believe he takes pic,tures.” 

At this time La Verne sobbed like 
her heart was broken, but the gypsy 
continued: “Your love for your 
false lover will soon die, but you’ll 
meet a new one far more worthy 
and lovable.” 

“While the rainbow is yet in the 
sky, you’ll meet your real lover.” 

The gypsy’s smile made La 
Verne forget that she ever loved 
18 


I^OVE’S RAINBOW DREAM 


the young photographer; made her 
forge, t at least for a while her tears 
— and there she sat innocent as a 
bird before a viper. 

‘‘You will be a June bride next 
summer und the groom will be an 
artist.’’ 

“Oh! Oh!” exclaimed La Verne 
and every sentence got better. Oh, 
could it be possible that her ro- 
mance was coming — coming soon — 
by the end of next June, only ten 
months away! 

And she would know him afar, 
for he would have wonderful golden 
locks that waved slightly over the 
perfect brow, and beautiful “azure 
eyes as glowing as the summer and 
as tender as the skies.” 

‘ ‘ And they should live together in 
a cozy little cot, hid in a nest of 
roses, with a fairy garden spot.” 

A blonde and a brunette! What 
a heavenly combination. La Verne 
19 


LOVE’S RAINBOW DREAM 


could hardly wait to hear it all and 
when she stepped from under the 
tent she almost ran with joy. 

She walked hastily toward the 
lake and, oh, how different the 
world looked! What a fine place 
it was after all. How joyful every- 
one looked. As she passed the 
music teacher’s window even 
Madiam Greene looked bright and 
less cross. 

The trees were greener, the skies 
seemed bluer and there were all 
those dear little sparrows chirping 
in the ro<ad. They had never 
seemed very attractive before, but 
how cute they really were ! 

And no wonder the world looked 
so different. She, La Verne Sun- 
beam, a bride at seventeen! How 
happy! and the cause was that she 
had suddenly been transformed into 
a visionary heroine, upon whom all 
eyes seemed riveted in uncontrolla- 
20 


LOVE’S RAINBOW DREAM 


ble envy and admiration. The 
Alpha and Omega of the whole af- 
fair was that the fountain of joy 
would never cease to flow. Next 
June! and how would the meeting 
take place 1 

“Some rainy day when the rain- 
bow stood hugging the sky she 
would find the artist with golden 
hair.’’ 

How queer! and what part shall 
the rainbow play? Wouldn’t some 
of the girls open their eyes ? Irene 
Carson, for example, who acted 
snippy just because she went to the 
ball game with twenty-year-old 
Claude Deering. Wouldn’t Irene 
feel cheap when she siaw unpreten- 
tious La Verne with a radiant, glit- 
tering diamond on her finger? 

But who could this artists be? 
“Maybe she meant he would be an 
artists after we married.” Jim 
Kenworth did have golden hair, but 
21 


LOVE’S RAINBOW DREAM 


it was straight, not wavy, and his 
small eyes were steely-blue — there 
was nothing glowing or tender 
about them. La Verne remembered 
having heard her father say that 
Jim took after his mother, and never 
had a serious thought in his' silly 
head. If he thought at all it was 
only to wonder if his lavender tie 
and socks matched exactly ; and, bed- 
sides, he wasn’t old enough to buy 
a license if he wanted to. No, of 
course, it could not possibly be 
Jimmy — what a foolish thought!- 
After going over her rather lengthy 
list of masculine acquaintances. La 
Verne decided that her god was 
yet to come from the land of the 
unknown. Oh, how her girlish- 
heart longed to tear away the cur- 
tain that still hid so much of the 
all-important future ! 

It was a little hard to go to music 
school on this glorious day, for even 
22 


LOVE’S RAINBOW DREAM 


music seemed dull in comparison 
with her golden future. 

But then there was the satisfac- 
tion of knowing that these were the 
last — the very last — of the sup- 
posed-to-be happy school days.’^ 
La Verne found herself smiling lit- 
tle pitying smiles at the girls whom 
she had formerly envied because 
they seemed so popular with all the 
boys in the class. But now — she 
pitied them, because not yet did 
they know the love that was so soon 
to be hers. 

And there was Miss Hays, one of 
the music pupils. No wonder she 
was cranky, after waiting so many 
years and still to have to die a spin- 
ster. On the way from the music 
studio La Verne came near disclos- 
ing the happy secret to Alice Win^ 
ters, her most trusted chum. ‘H’ve 
something perfectly lovely to tell 
you,’' she began, slipping her arm 
23 


LOVE'S RAIISTBOW DREAM 


about Aliceas plump shoulders, ‘‘if 
you promise — 

“Oh, say — while I think of it — I 
told Marion that secret you told me 
about seeing Irene and Claude out 
driving together. Marion said she 
wouldn ^t tell a soul, and I know she 
won^t. What was it you started to 
sajV’ 

“I — I guess IVe forgotten,’’ 
stammered La Verne, coloring^ 
slightly at the untruthfulness of her 
words. 

“It must have been a lie, then,”^ 
taunted her companion.. 


24 


CHAPTEE IV. 


Soon as La Verne left the tent 
the gipsy instructed ‘‘the tall girP’' 
how to send the “sad message^’ to 
their innocent victim — and the evil 
injurers were happy in the hope of 
their success. A few days follow- 
ing the fortune-telling La Verne sat 
on the veranda of the Winters^ 
home and her thoughts were again 
of Victor Wellington. 

The young photographer had 
sent La Verne word that he was 
called “to Southhaven on busi- 
ness/’ but she had not received the 
message. 

“Victor hasn’t called since I had 
my fortune told,” thought La 
Verne with a sigh, “and I guess my 
fortune will come true at last.” 

At this time the postman came by 
and tossed a letter in La Verne’s 
lap. The letter was quickly opened, 
25 


LOVERS RAINBOW DREAM 


and tlie first glance showed it was 
typewritten. Although Wellington 
had never written her a typewritten 
letter during their previous cor- 
respondence, yet she remembered 
that he kept a typewriter in his of- 
fice. In a frightened manner La 
Verne read the letter in amazement. 

‘^Dear La Verne: 

Doubtless you will be surprised, 
but I hereby inform you that our 
courtship ceases here and now. I 
shall not call again. As my love is 
dead, I trust that you may meet 
another whom you shall love. 

Respectfully, 

Victor Wellington.’’ 

When La Verne finished reading 
the letter she ran upstairs to her 
room and fell across the bed, where 
she cried herself to sleep. 

Alice went to awaken La Verne 
for dinner, but she declared that 
26 


LOVE’S RAINBOW DREAM 


she wanted ‘‘nothing to eat.’’ 

“Dear child, are you ill!” asked 
Alice, tenderly. 

“No; but I wish to be left alone 
to-day,” sobbed La Verne. 

Alice kissed her cousin’s fair 
brow and left the room. 

“She’s homesick again” she 
thought as she closed the door. 
“Poor child.” 

Had Alice lifted the window 
shade, she could have seen new- 
born care on La Verne’s face and 
swollen eyes wet with tears. La 
Verne still lay upon the bed and 
her experience resembled a horrible 
dream. 

In the afternoon after La Verne 
had gathered her thoughts, anger 
possessed her. She sat down and 
calmly answered the letter as fol- 
lows : 


2T 


LOVE’S RAINBOW DREAM 


‘^Mr. Victor Wellington, 

City. 

Nothing would please me better, 
sir, than to never see your face 
again. I am glad our courtship 
ceases; and the only favor I ask of 
you is to never more be in my pres- 
ence. 

This letter needs no answer. 

La Verne Sunbeam. 

This letter was mailed the same 
afternoon it was written and 
reached the studio the following 
morning. 

Victor Wellington had just 
placed some negatives in the sun- 
light and turned to the desk to read 
his morning mail. He looked over 
the mail hurriedly till he came to 
the letter in the handwriting of La 
Verne. 

‘‘Bless her dear heart,’’ he said, 
“I’ll read her dear letter first.” 


28 


LOVERS RAINBOW DREAM 


Before opening, he kissed the en- 
velope and could almost see her 
pretty eyes before him. He read 
the letter slowly and could hardly 
believe its message. 

^^What in the world is the mat- 
ter with ‘my Sunbeam,’ ” he asked 
himself. 

Twice more he read the letter and 
then started “heavy-hearted” to 
the Winters’ home to see if La 
Verne had really written the letter. 

But he chanced to meet La Verne 
face to face on the street near the 
postoffice. Her usual sunny smile 
was gone. She said not a word and 
ere he could ask her about the let- 
ter, she turned her back and walked 
quickly away. Then he went back 
to the studio and for an hour tried 
to study out the reason for her ac- 
tion, but his wondering was in vain. 
Then he read the rest of his morn- 
ing mail, among which was a letter 
29 


LOVE’S RAINBOW DREAM 


from his manager, advising his 
presence in his other studio at 
Grand Eapids. 

‘^It’s no use to stay here,” he 
thought. ‘‘I might as well go.” 

He hoarded the afternoon train 
for Grand Eapids, and as he left 
the depot the whole world seemed 
full of woe. 

His grief was too deep for tears. 

He only wanted to be alone — 
wanted to die. 

A's his train moved away he 
turned his face toward the Winters’ 
home and the sigh on his face told 
of the pain in his heart. 


30 


CHAPTER V. 


The autumn clouds rolled in 
banks of blue and gray with a mix- 
ture of crimson when La Verne was 
walking slowly down one of the 
main streets in Benton Harbor. 
Her attention was attracted by a 
strikingly distinguished figure not 
half a block distant. It was the tall 
figure of a young man in a black 
frock coat, soft black tie, and a 
broad-brimmed hat, worn slightly 
tilted on a mass of light, bushy hair. 
And eyes — oh, such eyes! They 
were laughing, they were sad, they 
were tender, pleading, defiant — 
they were everything at once. 
Surely, here was the pair of azure 
eyes ‘‘as glowing as the summer 
and as tender as the skies One 
glance into their wondrous depths 
sufficed to assure La Verne that 
here, indeed, was her souPs affinity. 


LOVE’S RAINBOW DREAM 


I just know that he is an 
artist by his pretty slender fingers 
— then he certainly fills the descrip- 
tion. ’ ^ 

Then she began to wonder how 
they would manage to get acquaint- 
ed. Perhaps some kind friend 
would introduce them, or maybe, 
still better, perhaps — perhaps he 
might rescue her from the hoofs of 
a runaway horse, an auto at top 
notch, or a mad dog — er — er — 
something terrible! But, then, it 
really did not matter just how they 
got acquainted; it was sufficient to 
know that it would come about 
somehow, somewhere, and they 
would live happy ever after. 

‘^It would be so perfectly stupid 
to marry a common, ordinary busi- 
ness man!^^ 

Saying this to herself, she lifted 
her eyes from the street and ‘^the 
lad with golden hair^^ had disap- 
32 


LOVE’S RAINBOW DREAM 


peared in the crowd, but buoyant 
in hope, she went to the Winters^ 
bom'e feeling that she would see 
him again on the street on the fair 
to-morrow. 

In helping her cousin Alice that 
night what an easy task it was to 
clear away the supper things and 
wash up the usually dreaded dishes ! 
Now, although La Verne had al- 
ways detested doing the never-end- 
ing dishes. Somehow to-night she 
dreamed of washing them forever 
in a neat, little kitchen, with its 
spotless floor and shining stove — 
dreamed of common, ordinary dish- 
washing, three times a day! Oh, 
she could do them five times a day — 
could do anything, everything— if 
only the artist smiled upon her! 
When the dishes were all out of the 
way and the kitchen tidied they 
would stroll into the parlor and 
^<he^^ would paint some rare pic- 
33 


LOVE’S RAINBOW DREAM 


ture, while she sat nearby in a dain- 
ty, fluffy gown, looking and waiting 
— waiting for the tender words that 
should follow the painting. And so 
she dreamed on — ^visions of the lit- 
tle cottage, with its broad veranda 
and charming, attractive rooms. 
Then there came thoughts of that 
beautiful silver set the gipsy said 
she would own, the shining sugar 
bowl, creamer and teapot, with its 
black ebony handle. Of course, it 
was a bit expensive, but an artist 
could buy luxury, and in the soft 
evening twilight they would sit un- 
der the tall, graceful elms and sip 
delicious tea, poured from the silver 
pot by her own hand. Oh, how 
happy they would be ! 

Soon her ‘‘rainbow dream” was 
interrupted by Mrs. Winters, who 
called “bedtime” and kissed La 
Verne a tender “good night.” 

When she was alone in her room 


34 


LOVE’S RAINBOW DREAM 


she thought of her girlhood home, 
and a tear kissed her rosy cheeks. 
It really would be hard to leave 
mother, father and the old home. 
Of course, we would often see one 
another, but, then — well, it wouldn’t 
be just the same. In a few minutes 
the future had lost much of its rosi- 
ness; it even looked pale! As La 
Verne put out the light and slipped 
to bed she half wished that June 
was not — ^not quite so near at hand. 

But in the morning, when the sun 
•shone and the birds sang again, the 
future regained all its brightness 
and color. 


35 


CHAPTER VI. 


The next day La Verne and Alice 
went bathing in the surging waves 
of Lake Michigan, and like happy 
children, gathered shells along the 
sandy banks. The tide came in and 
a gray cloud veiled the sun as if 
responding to the bather’s wish for 
‘^a cloudy afternoon.” 

La Verne came to the bank for a 
sand bath, and as she lay upon a 
soft bed of silver sand with the 
gray sky for a blanket, she resumed 
her rainbow dreams and wondered 
if the ‘‘lad with golden hair” might 
see her that very day and arrange 
to make her acquaintance. 

The afternoon was an unbroken 
dream of hope, but no “lad with 
golden hair” was to be seen on 
water or shore and the sun seemed 
to sink behind a cloud of despair. 

Another day passed and no en- 
36 


LOVE’S RAINBOW DREAM 


couragement, and to-morrow La 
Verne Sunbeam must start for her 
Florida borne. 

Her broken hopes fell like with- 
ered flowers and her rosy vision 
lost its beautiful color. 

‘‘Back home to have the same old 
sweethearts’’ to La Verne was a 
sad solution, but then it was a long 
time till June and surely Michigan 
was not the only place in the world 
where artists might ramble. 

“Did the ‘Gypsy Queen’ say that 
I would meet him in Michigan!” 
thought La Verne. 

“No; she did not say where — 
only that ‘ some rainy day when the 
rainbow stood hugging the sky.’ ” 
“ I ’ve not even seen a rainbow since 
I left Florida” she thought. 

Hope never dies till defeat con- 
quers, and this charming, romance- 
loving, southern girl must find the 
“lad with golden hair,” even if it 
37 


LOVERS RAINBOW DREAM: 


has to take place in ‘^the land of 
flowers’’ — the home of her girlhood 
dreamis. 


38 


CHAPTER VII. 


The next winter La Verne was in 
her happy southern home where the 
traveling birds winter to shun the 
clime of the frozen North. 

Florida flowers were in bloom 
and thousands of visitors were to 
be found along the silver lakes and 
amidst the woodland dells. La 
Verne often dreamed of her ro- 
mance under southern skies and 
longed to meet the young artist in 
whom she planted all her summer 
flowers of hope and her June-bride 
roses. 

LOVE’S RAINBOW DREAM. 

A maiden lay upon the lawn 
Beside a babbling stream — 

And saw the pretty rainbow 
In the realm of dream. 

It pointed down from heaven 
To a distant dell — 

Where the laughing waters 
Did 0 ’er the meadows swell. 


LOVE’S RAINBOW DREAM 


She dreamed of hope and comfort 
And mocked at time’s derision — 
While she saw her lover 
In love’s rainbow vision. 

The clouds began to gather 
And stirred with vague unrest — 
While a pall of blackness 
Stretched across the west. 

Arising from her vision 
The coming rain to flee — 

She hastened down the streamlet 
Toward the distant sea; 

And she found a shelter 
Beneath a giant stone — 

And while the rain descended 
She waited there, alone. 

And when the rain was over 
The sky resumed its blue; 

While her heart was longing 
To have the dream come true. 
Then the pretty rainbow 
Emblazoned on the skies — 
Pointed down from heaven 
Before her open eyes. 

40 


LOVE’S RAINBOW DREAM 


Standing there in wonder 
Of what the ‘‘gypsie’^ said — 
She started toward the meadow 
O^er which the rainbow spread, 
And ere the colors vanished 
She hastened on the way — 

To where she thought it pointed 
Where future hopes must lay. 

Heeding not the flowers 
Nor the brooks that flow — 
But thinking of “the fortune’’ 
Told her month ago. 

Still her steps were quickened 
O’er the meadows wet — 
Repeating o’er the story 
Lest she might forget. 


41 


CHAPTER VIII. 


It was late in the afternoon when 
an artist ‘‘with golden hair’^ fled 
from a Florida orange grove to an 
orange packing-house to shun the 
wind and rain. Russell Kendrick 
was wintering in “the land of flow- 
ers’’ and found great inspiration 
in drawing pictures from nature in 
the southern clime. For hours he 
would sit admiring the southern 
skies while painting a landscape in 
many colors. He could paint an 
orange tree so natural that one’s 
mouth might water at thought of 
the ripened fruit. Seldom did this 
young artist start for a walk with- 
out his small case of colored pencils 
and a tablet appropriate for draw- 
ing. 

On this rainy afternoon he sat on 
an orange box in the packing-house 
door and began to paint “the rain- 
42 


LOVE'S RAINBOW DREAM 


bow which stood hugging the sky/^ 

Ere he had finished the paintingy 
he lifted his azure eyes’’ and cen- 
tered them upon ‘Hhe Florida Sun- 
beam” who was coming directly to 
the packing-house for rest and 
shelter. 

La Verne yet had not seen the 
‘^lad with golden hair” when she 
entered the “end door” of the pack- 
ing-house, but the artist quite for- 
got his rainbow painting and the 
rainbow’s crimson seemed to fade 
into La Verne’s pretty cheeks. 
And, ah! those eyes! who could look 
upon the rainbow in preference to 
those two human stars — “The eyes 
of southern skies.” 

And that face! that ray of light 
which chased a pretty smile — ahf 
the rainbow looked pale beside the 
face of “the Florida Sunbeam.” 

La Verne stood watching the men 
pack oranges, and before leaving, 
43 


LOVE’S RAINBOW DREAM 


went to the door where ‘^the lad 
with golden hair’’ sat with his un- 
finished painting. 

^‘Ah, ha!” exclaimed La Verne 
to an acquaintance beside her, 
‘‘He’s painting the rainbow.” 

At this time La Verne’s friend 
drew near and said, “Miss Sun- 
beam, allow me to introduce Mr. 
Bussell Kendrick, the artist, who is 
wintering in Florida.” 

Shortly the young couple busied 
themselves in conversation — and 
ere night came Bussell Kendrick 
accompanied La Verne to her front 
gate, where they stood for some 
moments in conversation. 

“I shall complete the ‘rainbow 
painting’ in the morning,” said the 
artist, “and shall be pleased to call 
to-morrow afternoon to present you 
the painting.” 

“Oh, thank you,” responded La 
, Verne. “I’ll be glad to accept your 
44 


LOVE’S RAINBOW DREAM 


painting — and perhaps yon will like 
to see some paintings uncle sent me 
from Paris/’ 

‘^Gladly,” responded the artist. 
‘‘It would be a delightful privilege, 
especially while I’m so lonely in the 
absence of my sweetheart.” 

“You should have her with you,” 
replied La Verne, smiling. 

“She will be with me always af- 
ter December,” retorted the artist. 

“Oh!” exclaimed La Verne, 
“you’re engaged to be married in 
Christmas month 

“Yes,” he answered, “my father- 
in-law-to-be said his daughter 
would be my Christmas present.” 

“Then your prospective wife 
might object to the presentation 
you mentioned,” said La Verne. 

“No, indeed!” came the quick re- 
sponse. “She is not jealous, and 
rather approves my courtesy to 
congenial ladies.” 

45 


LOVE’S RAINBOW DREAM 


course, you can be courte- 
ous to all and still be true to ber,^’ 
La Verne said. 

The artist expressed his pleasure 
of acquaintance and bade her ‘^good 
night.” 

When La Verne entered the 
house tea was ready, and after eat- 
ing only a sandwich and some milk, 
she went to her bedroom. The day 
had been so full of ‘^romance” 
that her room looked like a strange 
abode. She rested her head upon 
her fair, bare arms folded upon the 
table edge and thought busily of the 
day’s adventure. Could the artist 
have seen her pose, he could have 
found the inspiration for a painting 
fairer than ‘‘the rainbow.” 

“I am disappointed and dis- 
gusted,” she thought. “At first I 
thought he had ‘azure eyes’ and 
‘golden hair,’ but his hair is a 
chestnut-brown and his eyes are 

46 


LOVE’S RAINBOW DREAM 


also brown.’’ 

‘‘He could not be the artist of 
‘my fortune,’ any way.” she 
thought, “for he is engaged.” 

La Verne was weary of the long 
day and its exercise, weary of new 
romance — and for the first time 
doubted the gypsy’s prediction. 
Yet, in spite of her doubt, she re- 
membered how her fortune was 
foretold regarding Victor Welling- 
ton’s love. 

“But the gypsy said my love for 
Victor would soon die,” she 
thought, “and to-night I love him 
dearer than all the world, even tho ’ 
I know his love for me is dead.” 

A tear dropped upon her fair 
arm, while memory carried her 
back to the studio in Benton Harbor 
where she first saw the “man of 
her romantic dreams.” 

Truly she thought “love of man 
is apart, but ’tis woman’s whole 
47 


LOVE’S RAINBOW DREAM 


existence.’’ Then the ^‘mean let- 
ter” which she had written to Vic- 
tor upon the wild moments ’s im- 
pulse of anger seemed to appear 
before her eyes. She recalled every 
word and sank back into the chair 
exclaiming ‘^Oh! it’s all my own 
fault. Maybe I could have won 
him back.” 

The whole night La Verne lay 
either awake in melancholy reflec- 
tion or in ‘‘wild dreams” of re- 
morse; and her “fortune” seemed 
farther away than ever. Every 
spark of love for Victor Wellington 
had suddenly been rekindled and 
her sad heart was aflame. 

Not till the dawn of day did she 
get an hour’s peaceful rest; and 
when her mother slipped to her 
room to call her for breakfast, La 
Verne was sleeping so deeply that 
she was left undisturbed in her 
sleep. 


48 


CHAPTER IX. 


Afternoon came again and found 
La Verne in the swing beneath the 
cool water oaks that shaded her 
home. The day had been too warm 
for ^‘sun baths,’’ but the breeze 
was fondling the green leaves. 

La Verne heard the gate slam, 
and when she turned her head, Rus- 
sell Kendrick, the artist, bowed 
with hat in hand. 

^‘Have a seat in the swing,” in- 
vited La Verne. 

The artist uncovered ‘Hhe rain- 
bow painting,” which he cordially 
presented, saying, ‘‘when rainbows 
fade from the sky, may this one re- 
tain its color.” 

Little did the artist know that 
her “rainbow of love” had already 
faded ; and her face had also faded 
from its former brightness. La 
49 


LOVE’S RAINBOW DREAM 


Verne looked up and found the art- 
ist staring into her face. 

‘‘Excuse my constant look/’ he 
said, “but I was just trying to re- 
call the place where I saw your 
photograph or a person of your re- 
semblance. ’ ’ 

“I presume not,” she responded, 
“for but one person in the world 
holds my picture.” 

“May I ask where that person 
is?” asked the artist. 

“In Michigan,” she responded, 
while a crimson blush came to her 
face. 

“Oh, I now recall the place,” 
said the artist. “It was at the 
studio at Benton Harbor where I 
had my pictures made before I 
came to Florida.” 

“How came you to notice my pic- 
ture?” asked La Verne. 

“I told the photographer I 
wanted my photograph made for 
50 


LOVE’S RAINBOW DREAM 


my bride-to-be and then told him 
of my engagement. ’ ^ 

^‘What did that have to do with 
my picture/^ asked La Verne, anx- 
iously. 

‘‘When I showed him my sweet- 
hearths picture in my watch, re- 
sponded the artist, “he took out his 
watch and said ‘here is my dream,’ 
meaning your picture, and then 
pointed to the picture on the wall, 
saying, ‘She’s the sweetest blossom 
in the land of flowers.’ ” 

La Verne could not conceal her 
anxiety and a smile came to her 
face — ^yet in the smile was invisible 
pain and tears. 

“Is that all he said?” asked La 
Verne. 

“He wished me a happy married 
life and in return I told him that I 
wished him the same ‘sooner or 
later.’ He then looked at your pic- 
51 


LOVE’S RAINBOW DREAM 


ture on the wall and said, ^Not long 
as she lives.’ ” 

‘‘I thought, said I, you said she 
was your dream.” 

‘But dreams do not always 
come true, ’ he said with a sigh. ’ ’ 

“Then he told me about the last 
letter he received from you and the 
last letter he had written to you.” 

“When did he say he wrote his 
last letter?” asked La Verne wildly. 

“Just before your last visit to 
Michigan,’ responded the artist. 

“Before!” La Verne exclaimed. 
“Then that horrible typewritten 
letter was not written by Victor,” 
La Verne said, and she sobbed bit- 
terly. 

“Don’t cry, little girl,” the art- 
ist said tenderly, “there is some 
misunderstanding. ’ ’ 

But the girl could not be recon- 
ciled and only sobbed the more. 

La Verne had to be put to bed 
52 


LOVE’S RAINBOW DREAM 


at once! and the artist called her 
father and assisted in carrying the 
stricken girl to her room. 

The artist sat beside her bed, ex- 
plained the situation to La Verne’s 
father and tried to comfort her. 
At last he said: ‘‘Miss Sunbeam, 
if you will give me that typewritten 
letter. I’ll send it to your lover and 
perhaps he’ll solve the mystery.” 

The sick girl consented, pointing 
to her trunk and said, “Thank you, 
sir, father will find you the letter 
among the others.” 

The letter was easily found and 
was stained with sorrow’s tears. 

Then she sank into unconscious- 
ness. 

The doctor was quickly sum- 
moned, and for days she lay weak 
and wan. 


53 


CHAPTEE X. 


Springtime had brought the birds 
back from their southern flight and 
once more they sang solos in the 
tree by Victor Wellington’s studio 
window. The sunshine and April 
showers had kissed the buds into 
bloom and the young photographer 
sat again at his eastern window in 
Benton Harbor. 

Victor Wellington was known by 
all his friends as an ideal moralist, 
but was not a professor of religion 
or even a church-member. Hereto- 
fore he thought it not essential to 
give much time to religious worship 
and church membership, saying he 
was “good as the average church- 
member. ’ ’ 

His life had been far from pleas- 
ant, for happiness he had not known 
since the memorable morning he 
read La Verne’s last letter. 


54 


LOVE’S RAINBOW DREAM 


But Welliingtoii^s heart had ex- 
perienced a wonderful change since 
one night he heard a revivalist 
preach from the text: ^‘Seek first 
the kingdom of God and His right- 
eousness and all things shall be 
added/’ Then another night the 
preacher’s text was; ‘‘Ye must be 
born again.” The yioung photog- 
rapher saw clearly that there was 
no place for the moralist in either 
of these sermons. 

“Seek first and all things shall 
be added.” He could not rid his 
mind of the text. 

“I’ve simply tried to reverse 
God’s law,” Wellington said to him- 
self, “and I’ve made a failure of 
it. I’ve tried to add all things first 
— then seek God last.” 

He began to study the Bible — and 
twio promises which gave him great 
hope was: “Seek and ye shall 


55 


LOVE’S RAINBOW DREAM 


find’’; ‘‘Ask and ye shall receive.’^ 
Donbt began to lessen. 

Victor bad faith in G^od that He 
conld bring back La Verne’s love 
and make him happy. Victor bad a 
new ideal in the person of bis new- 
ly-found Savior. His one desire 
was to live a true life and trust the 
Divine for the answer of prayer. 

And there in bis studio by the 
open window while the birds were 
yet singing Victor Wellington fell 
upon bis knees to pray. 

“God,” he said, “I believe my 
mo-tber’s old Bible and its sweet 
promises. And I pray Thee to for- 
give my sins and make me a better 
and truer man.” 

Then be started to arise, but knelt 
again. “0 God, bring back to me 
the love of sweet La Verne. 
Amen. ’ ’ 

He arose with a peaceful look 
upon bis face and bis heart felt 
56 


LOVE’S RAINBOW DREAM 


lighter than it had felt since La 
Verne last wrote that she loved him. 

Victor Wellington joined the 
church, was baptized — and not a 
better citizen could be found any- 
where. 

His Bible told him that God 
would answer prayer ; and each day 
his hope grew brighter and life be- 
came sweeter. 

The flowers seemed to blossom in 
a brighter hue and the very sky 
seemed full of glad birds whose 
songs were praise to God. A few 
mornings later when Victor Wel- 
lington opened his mail, he found 
‘‘the typewritten letter’’ and pinned 
to it was the following: 

“Dear Mr. Wellington: 

I chanced to meet Miss La 
Verne Sunbeam during my winter’s 
stay in Florida and learned that the 
typewritten letter herewith had 
57 


LOVE’S RAINBOW DREAM 


broken her heart. I remembered 
your having mentioned her so 
sweetly when you showed me her 
picture and hence I believe some 
great injustice has been wrought. 

I obtained the letter by her con- 
sent and she is now in her home 
with a broken heart. 

Please accept this act as a deed 
of kindness from, 

Yours truly, 

Eussell Kendrick.’^ 

S. — If you have forgotten 
me, just think of the young man 
who had an extra picture made for 
his bride-to-be.’’ 

The photographer read the letter 
over two or three times ere he could 
understand it, and for the first time 
understood why La Verne had writ- 
ten that horrible letter severing 
their courtship. 

A mixture of sadness and joy 
58 


LOVE’S RAINBOW DREAM 


came to him as he unraveled the 
mystery. 

“It’s simply the blackmailing 
work of an enemy,” he thought, 
“for I could not write such a cruel 
letter, even if I should try.” 

Sorrow softened his heart, 
cleared his vision and now he began 
to see how “all things work to- 
gether for good to them that love 
God.” 

He could not put off writing to 
La Verne another minute, and after 
a breath of thanks to God, he sat 
at his desk and wrote the following : 

'‘My Dearest La Verne: 

I have just received a letter 
from Russell Kendrick inclosing a 
typewritten letter supposedly from 
me. I did not write the letter, knew 
nothing of your having received it 
and now I know why you wrote me 
the letter severing our courtship. 

59 


LOVE’S RAINBOW DREAM 


Believe me, dearest, I love you 
more, if possible, than I have ever 
loved. Not one day has passed 
since the receipt of your letter that 
I have not thought of you; and my 
one prayer has been that we might 
be brought together in love. 

My heart has long been broken, 
but would be healed to know that 
you still return my love. Soon as 
you get this, please write me by re- 
turn mail and only say that you 
love me. I’ll start for Florida to 
see you on the next train after re- 
ceiving your letter. 

Your faithful lover, 

Victor ‘Wellington.’’ 


60 


CHAPTEE XI. 

Once more La Verne was able to 
sit in the swing beneath the spread- 
ing shade. The sky was clear and 
swarms of birds warbled on the 
house-top. 

iSince making the acquaintance of 
her new friend, Eussell Kendrick, 
she had also prayed that fate would 
send her just one line to disprove 
that Victor’s love was false. 

She could hardly believe that he 
could be so cruel — and yet it was 
a mystery yet to be solved. La 
Verne’s face was turned toward 
the postoffice and a distance away 
she could see her brother coming in 
a run with a letter in his hand. 

When the boy reached the gate 
she hollowed: ^^Is it for me?” The 
boy was too near ^‘out of breath” 
to answer, but his smile brought 
fair hope. 

She took the letter and tore it 
61 


LOVE’S RAINBOW DREAM 


open nervously. ^‘From Victor!’^ 
she exclaimed. Her eyes sparkled 
like noon-day sunbeams. She kissed 
the letter, then kissed her brother. 
She smiled, she laughed and then 
she cried for joy. Her heart was 
light once more and she was happy 
^‘He’s coming soon as he gets my 
answer,’’ she said to her brother, 
^^and do run and get my pen and 
tablet and we’ll mail it on the next 
train.” 

Before Victor Wellington came 
the color had come back to La 
Verne’s cheeks and she was no 
longer weak and wan. 

The world looked like a new gar- 
den of beauty; life had a new glory, 
for after sorrow had flown prayers 
were answered and two more happy 
lovers were united in the oneness 
of love and their Christian home is 
an earthly heaven. 

The end. 


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